The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-23
THE TURQUOISE RING.


you must go?" She fell back II
step, as if she detected impatience in
his tone. "You can't stay any
longer?" she said then more help
lessly.
"No, / must be off. Be good
girl, Paulita, and-and think Of me
sometimes" lie ended with laugh
that sounded half sarcastic. But
she had loosened her hold upon his
arm, and she looked at him almost
with the calmness of despair.
"Think of me sometimes" he re-
peated.
Sometimes !" she struck in with
quiet intensity. always. Night
and day, morning and midday and
evening and midnight. Every mo-
ment, constantly, faithfully, | shall
never let your image leave me for
an instant. | will wear your ring
and will look at it and see your two
blue eyes watching me-" 3 * ''
"Good-by, good-by, good-by."
lie regarded her for Il moment in
silence. lie appeared surprised yet
relieved at her quietude. He was
glad there had been no scene. He
had almost expected one. Then he
stopped hastily and kissed her fore
head lightly, just brushing it with
his lips, and turning, hastened
away.
lie was Roger Hastings, the son
of wealthy parents ; he traced his
ancestry back for many generations
He had got all of his col ege course
that he cared for, and he was going
to see the world pretty thoroughly
for the dozen years to come.
1t would be strange if he did mo-
care to gather an occasional flower
by the wayside as he went.
And Paulita? She watched him
as long as her eyes could tell hi.
shape watched him pass briskly
off into the twilight.
She put her hand in the bosom o
her dress and touched tendcrly tht
ring she wore upon blue ribbon
the ring that he had given her-th,
solid band with its quaint setting o
twin turquoiscs like two blue eyei
gazing steadily outward. She knew
he would be true TO her. She knew
he loved her.
Then Paulatia came back to her
self out of II pleasant dream int
which she had been drifting, and
remembered that she must go to bee
at once in order to rise early ant
finish the fine work in time.
81 never saw that ribbon arount
your neck before" said the chambe
maid, suddenly. "What i s it;
Gospel you're wearing ?"
Paulitia hesitated.
"Yes," she said softly. SIT keeps
harm away"
In II fortnight the family were Il
Newport.
Paulitia wondered how soon shC
would hear from her lover. She
looked for II letter any day. ii,
would write to Newport, or even j
he did not, the letter would be for
warded from the city house.
Paulitia dreamed Il good deal
day-dreams /; while she sewed, o
while she helped the governess t.
take the children for walks. Pauliti
dreamed by day and by night. Sh
dreamed as she walked by the oceai
and looked out toward the blue hor
lion rim.
But no letter came.
She wore her ring within her bos
ON. Sometimes she took it out anC
looked at it and remembered hi
voice when he gave it to her re
membered his soft laugh when h,
warned her not to let acid touch til,
stones and darken them.
Sometimes-aye, very oiten-sh
kissed the ring, and said "My Re
ger"
But the days passed, and tn,
weeks passed, and no letter came
no word or sign of her lover.
At length Paulita's face began t,
grow thin and pale, her eyes SCENE,
larger, darker-for great hollow
came about them. She did not car
for food. She did not sleep a
night.
And still she waited for his lettel
One afternoon the mistress bad
her to do some work that ncede
the mistress supervision.
Paulitia sat palely watching he
stitches and plying her needle
Some strange influence had move
her to take the turquoise ring frol
her bosom and place it upon he
wedding ring finger. Her hand
were very thin and white, to mate
the nullor of hpr fncr and thr HIN